The Recipe for a Balanced Look

A colorful kitchen doesn't necessarily require look-at-me cabinets or a bold backsplash; instead, color can be added in small doses for a more balanced look. Here, designer DD Allen creates a peaceful backdrop with soft grays then brings in lots of kicky colors with the kitchen's accessories, furniture and artwork.

Rhapsody in Blue

Boasting a soaring, exposed ceiling, Wedgwood blue tempered glass cabinets, quartz countertops and pro-grade appliances, this Florida kitchen is a chef's dream. A high-end choice, the glass cabinets are not only easy on the eyes, they're also a snap to keep clean.

Fiery Orange

Designer Robin Siegerman chose the upper cabinets' intense hue for its mood-lifting qualities. Studies have shown that the color orange stimulates optimism and a positive outlook. Considering most of us spend a little time each morning in the kitchen, starting each day with a cheery outlook is ideal.

Bright, White and Buttery

Designer extraordinaire, Sarah Richardson, breathed new life into her 1885 farmhouse with this bright and airy kitchen. White wall cabinets offer plenty of storage space and act as a clean backdrop to the kitchen's real star: the massive butter-yellow island that features a charming salvaged newel post at the corner of the bar. Rather than restaining the 130-year-old hardwoods, Sarah chose to simply strip then protect them with a clear coat so the wood's natural golden tone would show through.

Chocolate + Yellow and Green All Over

Rich, espresso-stained wood cabinets provide a dark backdrop to this kitchen's sunny yellow island. Sustainable materials, like a mosaic backsplash made from reclaimed stained glass, quartz countertops, energy-efficient appliances and low-voltage lighting make this HGTV Green Home kitchen as eco-friendly as it is beautiful.

Copper, The Hot New Metallic

Remodeling pros Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri, the Kitchen Cousins, give this moody, dark kitchen just the right amount of glitz with a custom copper range hood. Positioned above the freestanding gas stove to remove cooking smoke, fumes and steam, its sculptural form combines the best of form and function.

Smoky Sophistication

As any fan of her shows can attest, designer Sarah Richardson certainly isn't shy of bold colors — but she's equally adept at creating a high-end space using a softer, neutral palette. To update this formerly cookie-cutter suburban kitchen, Sarah used shades of gray in the island, honed granite countertops, fabrics and Carrara marble mosaic backsplash.

Easy Being Green

This kitchen showcases the homeowners' love of green with an eye-catching key lime-hued backsplash. After looking at dozens of green tiles, she chose Walker Zanger's Vibe-Ashbury for its saturated shade and curvy arabesque shape.

Dramatic Red

Saturated red walls in this kitchen by designer Meg Caswell are a real showstopper — but the intense hue isn't courtesy of a tile backsplash, instead Meg painted the walls red, then covered them with glass panels for added shine and ease in cleaning.

Beachy Blues

Just a short distance from the shore in Jacksonville, Fla., this HGTV Smart Home kitchen's watery color scheme certainly puts you in a vacation state of mind. Designer Linda Woodrum chose crisp white for the wall cabinets, quartz countertops and glass subway tile backsplash then painted the walls and ceiling in a soft teal. For the kitchen's hard-working island, she chose a more saturated turquoise.

Sunny Yellow

John and Anthony, the Kitchen Cousins, relied on the perennially popular color combo of yellow and gray for this kitchen remodel. Sleek, laminate cabinets in a bright and cheery hue pair beautifully with the cook space's stainless steel appliances and island countertop.

A Splash of Pumpkin

This sleek, ultra-contemporary kitchen — with a vast amount of countertop space — is the perfect place for preparing intimate dinners. Its Macassar ebony veneer cabinetry and glazed pumpkin walls emit a warm and inviting feeling from the moment guests walk into the room. To add a shiny, contrasting look that still creates warmth, designer Jennifer Gilmer mixed in white lacquer accents from the island to the countertop. Image courtesy of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchens

Cool and Playful

To suit her clients' love of eclectic interiors and all things vintage, designer Meg Caswell created this kitchen that has a decidedly whimsical, retro vibe. Fused glass tiles in shades of blue, green and white create a funky backspash while the wall cabinets receive a coat of soft powder blue paint. Meg tops a creamy center island with a glass countertop with just a hint of green, reminiscent of the jadeite pieces collected by the homeowners.

Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade

It's true that yellow is an energetic, eye-catching hue that can easily uplift moods and inspire, especially in the kitchen. In this casual family kitchen, yellow is only seen along the upper half of the walls and in the island light fixtures. However, the playful color scheme is undeniably the first thing noticed. The yellow, mixed with white cabinets, coffered ceilings and a soft backsplash, emits an airy feel that would make anyone feel right at home. Image courtesy of JAS Design Build

Moody Blues

These high gloss wall tiles from Italian manufacturer Fap Ceramiche add maximum color while eliminating worries over kitchen spills and splatters. To break up the sea of blue, a painted chalkboard border can display a recipe, notes to family or a grocery list.

Minty Green

Cousins on CallAnthony and John chose the cabinets' fresh, minty hue to tie in with the rest of this home's vintage details. A Carrara marble countertop and mirrored tile backsplash keep the kitchen feeling bright and airy.

Cooking With Blueberries

A subtle dose of blue adds just the right amount of vintage-inspired charm to this contemporary kitchen. The most noticeable design element is the scattered blue-and-ivory tile backsplash above the stove. The sporadic tile placement makes the backsplash the focal point and ties the entire color scheme together. Image courtesy of Slifer Designs

Cherry-Stained Cabinets

The walls and countertops may be a cool shade of white, but sometimes the most color, saturation and pattern can lie in a beautiful piece of wood. SPG Architects designed this contemporary kitchen at Casa Torcida around a species of local wood and refined stainless steel elements for a crisp, polished look. When the kitchen requires an extra dose of color, a stunning flower arrangement is all that's needed. Image courtesy of SPG Architects

Peachy-Keen Cottage Kitchen

Although salmon isn't typically a color that comes to mind for modern kitchens, designer Judy O'Neil Labins chose it for just that reason: she wanted a color that was warm, cheery and had just the right amount of vintage charm for her cottage-style kitchen.

Eat Your Greens

In most room settings, green is known for being a cool, soothing color that can easily bring comfort and calmness. The crisp, apple-green hue and natural wood ceiling planks mesh beautifully with the sleek, stainless steel cabinetry and appliances while still maintaining an organic look and feel around the room. Image courtesy of St. Charles Cabinetry

A Scoop of Vanilla

Designer Gail Drury combined traditional sage-green accents and ivory cabinets, along with contemporary materials and conveniences, to bring an updated look and feel to this charming bungalow home. An eclectic mix of wood finishes in the island and barstools further add to the kitchen's old-fashioned appeal.

Red Hot Kitchen

Nothing spices up a rich, gourmet kitchen quite like a playful pop of red. These colorful barstools are the perfect complement to dark wood cabinetry and floors in this Old World-inspired kitchen. White coffered ceilings, recessed lighting and white marble countertops help reflect light around the room, which visually expands the already spacious gathering spot. Image courtesy of SFA Design

Sky-Blue Frosting

This contemporary kitchen is immediately illuminated by the sky-blue light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. This cool blue hue is carried across the room, from the expansive island and accessories to the lights reflected in the back wall shelves. Image courtesy of St. Charles Cabinetry

Raspberry Accents

This airy kitchen feels open and inviting with its French doors, skylights and crisp, white-on-white color scheme. To add a modern edge, the designer included sharp black and fuchsia accents in the barstools, place settings and geometric light fixture. Using deeper contrasts in the kitchen helps create a barrier between the two areas, creating a softer, more intimate space in the dining room.

Warm Pecan Finish

In this vibrant and contemporary kitchen, pecan-finished cabinetry offers the greatest amount of color, especially when paired with light golden walls and olive marble countertops. Sleek stainless steel accents were added to balance the natural elements while still maintaining a cozy, at-home feel. Image courtesy of Slifer Designs